Assessing COVID‐19 Outcomes in Light of Cultural Norms and Policy Changes: A Time‐Series Analysis Tool Grounded in Safety‐Focused Policy Science

ABSTRACT Cultural norms and traditional behaviors have significantly influenced the outcomes of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Asian countries initially outperformed their Western counterparts due to their cultural practices. However, policy shifts have led to a decline in these countries' performance. The objective of this study is to scrutinize the performance of different countries in managing the COVID‐19 pandemic, with a focus on the influence of cultural norms and traditional behaviors, and to propose a tool that can inform and enhance current urban management policies. This study employs a time‐series policy outcome analysis tool that operates on a single metric: the daily cumulative mortality of the population. By implementing a test‐isolation strategy to manage quarantine periods, this tool aims to significantly influence the pandemic's outcome. The tool's efficacy is showcased through a case study involving four countries. New insights are validated and visualized via generated graphs, demonstrating the potential of this tool in the realm of tourism and urban management. This proposed tool holds promise for informing and enhancing current urban management policies, thereby mitigating unnecessary tourism‐related fatalities in future pandemics. It underscores the importance of having the right information at the right time to make informed decisions in response to a pandemic.